Officials hold off on early voting in city

WORCESTER 
The Election Commission is taking a wait-and-see approach before deciding whether to embrace the idea of having early voting in the city.

The five-member commission Monday night decided to table a proposal to endorse the concept because three members felt more information is needed.

They said it made more sense to have the City Council first take a vote on early voting before the Election Commission weighed in on it because the council is the body responsible for setting the municipal election calendar each year.

The idea of having early voting in the city originated with the council last month when it was broached by two city councilors.

Councilors-at-Large Frederick C. Rushton and Joseph C. O’Brien filed an order requesting the Election Commission and the city clerk implement six days of early voting as a way to encourage more voters to participate in this year’s municipal election.

The councilors suggested that the early voting be held on the second floor of City Hall from Oct. 30 through Nov. 4, leading up to the Nov. 5 municipal election.

They also proposed a resolution that asked their colleagues to go on record in favor of President Obama’s initiative to enhance participation in elections by requiring all states to provide online voter registration and at least 15 days of early voting.

But the two items have been stalled on the council since Feb. 12 when Councilor-at-Large Konstantina B. Lukes invoked personal privilege to table them. They have remained on the table since then, and will stay there at least until next week.

Because the City Council has yet to actually take a vote on early voting, some election commissioners felt it was premature for them to take a stand on the issue at this time.

“I have a number of logistical questions about early voting,” said Diane C. Mohieldin, commission chairwoman. “I need a great deal more information about it. I have a number of concerns about how it works and whether it would provide an opportunity for voter fraud. I don’t want to enthusiastically support something I do not fully understand.”

Commissioner John M. Goggins suggested the Election Commission “wholeheartedly endorse” any attempt to shorten lines at polling places and encourage more people to vote.

He acknowledged that early voting is something the City Council likely could not implement itself, but would rather likely require approval from the state Legislature or the secretary of state before the city could even consider it.

Mr. Goggins also said that if Worcester is presented an opportunity to engage in an early voting pilot program, if such a program is ever offered by the state, then the Election Commission should get behind that as well.

“Assuming it’s practical and legal, I’m willing to show support for this,” he said. “If there is an opportunity to do a pilot program here in Worcester, we as a commission should welcome that opportunity. If it’s coming, we should encourage the council to follow that avenue.”

The City Council has requested City Manager Michael V. O’Brien to ask the secretary of state to consider using Worcester as a pilot for early voting for the April and June special U.S. Senate elections.

It has also asked for a legal opinion from City Solicitor David M. Moore about the feasibility of implementing early voting in the city.

But City Clerk David J. Rushford said he was not certain whether the secretary of state’s office could offer an early voting pilot program or authorize communities to implement early voting without authorization from the Legislature.

Commissioner Robert P. Winant said he is not sold on the need for early voting, especially for municipal elections when turnout is usually on the low side and waiting lines don’t exist.

He also pointed out that people have an opportunity to vote before an election if they wish by applying for an absentee ballot.

“I need to understand the reasoning why early voting is necessary,” Mr. Winant said. “I’m not convinced that early voting is something that would cause more people to vote.”

Before Mr. Goggins’ motion to have the commission endorse the concept of early voting came up for a vote, only two commissioners (Mr. Goggins and Mary Anne Dube) indicated they would support it, two (Mr. Winant and David Lapierre) said they would abstain because they wanted additional information and one (Ms. Mohieldin) voiced opposition. Mr. Goggins then moved that the item be tabled.